Bruce John Snell

Bruce John Snell was welcomed into this world by Violet and Barney Snell on April 21st, 1938 in Hanna, WY, before being brought home to Medicine Bow, WY.

He often thought of himself as a simple country boy. His first “job” was to bring in coal and wood for the stoves at home before moving on to driving a tractor to rake hay at the Two Bar Ranch as a teen. Eventually, he was hired with The White Ditching Company where he worked for 10 ½ years before he started with the Texaco Refinery in Casper. That job led to his time in Washington at the Anacortes Texaco Refinery. He worked there until he retired in 1994 and returned to Casper, WY.

He attended grade school in Medicine Bow and one room school houses in the Bates Hole area.His family moved to Casper when he was starting 9th grade at Natrona County High School, and he graduated from there in 1956.

He and Sharon met on a blind date in the 50’s; at twenty-two, he moved out from his Dad and Mom’s to move in with and marry Sharon. He had to sell his motorcycle to pay for the wedding rings. They wedded on May 7th, 1960 and celebrated 63 years of marriage.

During his life, he cultivated a love of tractors, lemon pies, church, and family. He spent much of his free time in retirement helping others; he loved volunteering on the church grounds, spending time with his grandchildren, and continuing with his hobbies: hunting, fishing, and camping as well as working and tinkering on his many projects. Some of his fondest memories came from
his time camping; especially during elk season, on the Shirley Mountains.

If you knew Bruce, you knew food was a source of joy as it often meant friends and family were coming together for a celebration. To see Bruce happy was to see him next to a campfire with a sandwich or burger in one hand, a cold beer in the other, a grin from ear to ear on his face, and a crinkle in his eyes. He greatly enjoyed being on his property on Shirley Mountain and at Wolf Creek; especially when friends and family were close by.

In his words, “Some of the happiest times in my life were when I married Sharon, then each time one of our kids came to be, then when each one of our grandchildren came to be, [and] now we have our great grandchildren coming to be. We have a wonderful family. Sharon and I are very proud of them all.”

Bruce was greeted warmly by his parents, Violet and Barney, and siblings Milton (Billie), Ernest (Marguerite), Darlene, and Elaine on the afternoon of October 21st, 2023 in that happy hunting ground. He is survived by his brothers Roger and Charlie, his wife Sharon, their children Debbie, John (Patty), and Matt, as well as his little sugars Jessica (Joe), Lauren (Allen), and Meghan (Cormick), in addition to his grandson Freddie (Jessica). He also has four great grandchildren Viona, Daphne, Evie, and, recently joining us, Baby Bruce (Freddy the 6th).

Services will be held at Our Lady of Fatima on Thursday, November 2nd at 11:00 am. (1401 CY Ave) After the service we will be going to Memorial Gardens, and then returning to Lady of Fatima for lunch. Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 1st at Bustards from 5:00 to 7:00 with the Rosary at 7:00.

We want to say thank you for all of the wonderful care that Bruce received from the staff at Wyoming Medical Center and Central Wyoming Hospice. He was always in the best of hands, and we greatly appreciated it. Also, thank you to Father Vaske for his many visits and comforting words. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Bruce, please consider Central Wyoming Hospice or a charity of the donor’s choice.